Ship-protector.



R. .Lv CHAPMAN;

SHIP PROTECTOR.

APPLlcAnoN FILED SEPT. 12. 19u.

Patnted May 7,1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l R. J. CHAPMAN.

SHlP PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.12. |911.

Patented May?, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Snom/toi 1Q. J @W5/77am RICHARD J'. CHAPMAN, OF TERRY, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SHIP-PROTECTOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1918.

Application filed September 12, 1917. Serial N o. 191,016.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that RICHARD J. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terry, in the county of Lawrence and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ship-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to protectors for vessels and aims to provide means for rendering the hull of the vessel immune against attacks by torpedoes and mines.

An object of the invention is to provide a protector which is composed of sections adapted to be hingedly secured to the hull of the vessel in a manner to permit of their being quickly lowered into position to protect said hull, the protector sections being supported spaced from the hull when in operative position and capable of being folded above the water line and against the vessel when not in use.

Another object is to provide novel means for supporting the sections and maintain ing the net in a taut condition, this supporting means also acting to resist the water pressure when the vessel is going either forward or backward.

The invention further contemplates novel means for locking the protector sections in operative position, the locking means being hingedly secured to the hull and removably engaged with each end of each of the protector sections. a

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear when the following de scription is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe hull of al vessel equipped with the protector;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse 'sectional view through the hull of the vessel with the protector shown in an operative position; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the protector raised.

In the practical embodiment of the invention there is employed a series of protector sections of suitable length and width, the proportion of each of the sections depending upon the size of the vessel to which they are attached. These sections each comprise end bars 10 and each are connected by means of a strong net of suitable construction, the net shown in the present. instance `being composed of longitudinal bars or rods 1.1 and transverse stays 12, constructed preferably of steel wire or cables.

Hingedly secured to the end bars 10 at a point approximately intermediate of their length, are supportingbars 13, there being one of these supporting bars provided for each of the end bars. The end of the bars 13 opposite that which is hingedly secured t0 the bar 10 is in turn hingedly secured to the hull of the vessel as shown at la. Secured` to the hull of the vessel preferably upon the same hinge 14, is a bar 15, the opposite free end of this bar being provided with a notch 16, which engages over the upper'end of each of the end bars 10. This bar 15 acts to maintain the bars 10 and consequently the section in a substantially vcr-- tical position, the locking notch 16 providingy a detachable engagement between the bars 10 and 15, so as to permit of the protector section being folded upwardly against the side of the vessel as shown in Fig. e of the drawings. This arrangement of the bars 10, 13, and 15 provides a substantially triangular formation and arrangement of the bars, `the bar 13 lying directly beneath the bar 15 and behind the bar 10. Secured beneath each of the bars 13 at a point adja cent the hinge 14, is a stop 16, in the form of a curved bar, one end of which is connected to the bar 13 as shown at 17 and the opposite free end bearing against the hull of the vessel when the protector section is in position for use. For this purpose the stop 16 is provided with a large bearing end 18.

In order to hold the bars just described against lateral movement, due to the passage of the vessel through the water, each of the bars 10 is pivoted thereto preferably at the same point of connection to the bar 18, a brace 19, the opposite end of this brace being in turn pivotally connected to the hull of the vessel as shown at 19', this connection being preferably on a line with the hinge 14.

The hinge 19 is secured to the hull of the vessel at a point within the ends of the protector sect-ion and between the end bars 10, so that the brace 19 extends upwardly and inwardly with respect to said section. The net is thusl maintained in a taut condition, the brace acting to resist the water pressure when the vessel is traveling either in a backward or forward direction. As the pivotal connection of the brace 19 with the bar 10 and the hull of the vessel is in alineinent with the pivotal connections of the bar 13, this brace4 and bar will consequently be in alinement, so that in looking at the Vvessel from either end the arrangement forms a substantially triangular formation as previously mentioned. 4

Secured to each of theend bars 10 of each of the protector sections, is a cable 20, this cable extending upward and engaging around a capstan or windlass mounted on the deck ofthe vessel, this windlass being shown at 21. This enables each end of the protector sections to be raised simultaneously in positionlagainst the sides of the vessel, or quickly lowered into position for use.

It is believed that from the foregoing description 'when read in `connection with the accompanying drawings, that theconstruction, voperation and advantages of the invention will be apparent. The right is reserved to make such changes in the form and proportion thereof as will f all within the vscope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, whatv is claimed is: y

1. A ship protector comprising independent yprotector sections, each of said sections including end bars, nets connecting said bars, means for hingedly connecting the bars to and spacing the same from the hull of the vessel, locking bars having one of their ends hingedly secured to the hull of the vessel andhooks located upon the opposite ends of the locking bars for engagement with the end bars to hold the sections against pivotal movement when in an operative position. d

2. A :ship protector comprising independent .protector sections, each of said sections yincluding end bars, nets connecting said bars combined means for hingedly connecting said bars to vand spacing the same from the lhull of the vessel and gravity operated means also hingedly secured to said vessel and adapted to,v engage the end bars for holding the protector section in an operative position.

3. A ship protector comprising independf ent proctector sections, each of *said sections including end bars, nets connecting said bars, a spacing and supporting bar hingedly at a point withinthe ends of ythe protectors section, whereby the netfconnectin'g the end bars will be maintained. in Ya taut condition and means hingedly secured to the hull of the vessel for holding the protector 'sections in operative position.

5. A ship protector comprising independent protector sections, each ofsaid sections including end bars, nets connecting said bars, combined means forhingedly connecting said bars to and spacing the, saniefrom the hull of the vessel, `means, hingedly `secured to said vessel for holding the protectorsections `in operative position and a stop carried by the combined connecting. and spacing means engageable with the hull of the vessel for limiting the Ir'novein'ent of said sections in one direction. i y n l In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

tso

RICHARD J. CHAPMAN.

opies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the o'mmissioner of Iiatents,

- Washington, D. C. v 

